Tierable and nestable receptacle



W. H. LOCKWOOD TIERABLE AND NESTABLE RECEPTACLE 17 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 6, 1957 INVENTOR. wan?! 12' Aac/rwaao 1977' /PNE'KS April 5, 1960 Filed Feb. 6, 1957 W. H. LOCKWOOD TIERABLE AND NESTABLE RECEPTACLE l7 Sheets-Sheet 2 WHIP/PEN H LOG/(W000 arr nwe'm A ril 5, 1960 w. H. LOCKWOOD 2,931,535

TIERABLE AND NESTABLERECEPTACLE Filed Feb. 6, 1957 17 Sheets-Sheet 3 ET 7 M 58 uvmvm.

April 5, 1960 w. H. LOCKWOOD 2,931,535

' TIERABLE AND NESTABLE RECEPTACLE Filed Feb. 6, 1957 1'! Sheets-Sheet 5 A ril 5, 1960 w. H. o cKw00D 2,931,535

TIERABLE AND NESTABLE RECEPTACLE Filed Feb. 6, 1957 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TOR. WG/MEA/ f7 1 0 cm wean arrmPlwryd w. H. LOCKWOOD 2,931,535

TIERABLE AND NESTABLE RECEPTACLE l7 Sheets-Sheet 7 April 5, 1960 Filed Feb. 6. 1957 E1 g L5 INVENTOR. H. Lac/(wean April 5, 1960 w. H. LOCKWOOD 2,931,535

TIERABLE AND NESTABLE RECEPTACLE Filed Feb. 6, 1957 17 Sheets-Sheet s J6me Q- 5 INVENTOR.

April 1960 w. H. LOCKWOOD 2,931,535

TIERABLE AND NESTABLE RECEPTACLE Filed Feb. 6, 1957 17 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVEN TOR. WqAfiE/v H La CKWOOO BY /yqg%%& B um arrp PA/Eys April 5, 1960 w. H. LOCKWOOD 2,931,535

TIERABLE AND NESTABLE RECEPTACLE Filed Feb. 6, 1957 l7 Sheets-Sheet 10 I IN V EN TOR.

April 1960 w. H. LOCKWOOD 2,931,535

TIERABLE AND NESTABLE RECEPTACLE Filed Feb. 6, 1957 17 Sheets-Sheet 11 IN V EN TOR. WY/FRE'N h. L 0 c K W000 April 5, 1960 w. H. LOCKWOOD TIERABLE AND NESTABLE RECEPTACLE Filed Feb. 6, 1957 17 Sheets-Sheet 12 7/a I I INVENTOR.

0%.. n mi #mm N a M6 W W Y April 5, 1960 Filed Feb. 6, 1957 W. H. LOCKWOOD TIERABLE AND NESTABLE RECEPTACLE l7 Sheets-Sheet 14 INVENTOR. W7/FIF5/Y x710 or waaa /7/ZWMJM& 12W,

HTTGIPNE'YS APril 5, 1960 w. H. LOCKWOOD 2,931,535

TIERABLE AND NESTABLE RECEPTACLE Filed Feb. 6, 1957 l7 Sheets-Sheet 15 INVENTOR. WH P/727V M locrrwaao E11? 1E? I I a? April 1960 w. H. LOCKW'OOD 2,931,535

TIERABLE AND NESTABLE RECEPTACLE Filed Feb. 6, 1957 17 Sheets-Sheet 1s w. H. LOCKWOOD 2,931,535

TIERABLE AND NESTABLE RECEPTACLE 178beets-Sheet 17 April 7 5, 1960 Filed Feb. 6, 1957 40 T as I 51- 1 g4l IN V EN TOR.

ited States Patent This invention relates to improvements in receptacles, and more particularly to that typeof receptacle adapted to be tiered when in use and to be nested when empty.

Wherever in this specification and claims I have referred to these receptacles as trays," I intend such term to include crates, boxes, baskets, trays and similar receptacles which may be stacked one upon another when in use and nested when empty for conservation of 7 space.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tray which when stacked or tiered with a like tray, one on top of the other, in vertical alignment, fixed points of support near the top edge of the lower unit and near the bottom edge of the upper unit, are in conflicting obstruction to each other so that one unit is tiered upon the other. I then provide an opening or clearway, extending in vertical alignment from the point of tiering support to at least that level in the tray occupied by the bottom of the upper tray when the parts are in nested position. The trays are so constructed that the conflicting obstruction of thesupport points of two stacked or tiered units may be disengaged, in order to nest, by

shifting the top unit a short distance within the confines of the lower unit and while maintaining the bottom of the upper unit in substantially the same plane.

In the first described embodiment, this shifting of, the upper unit is provided by rotating the top unit a few degrees about a generally central vertical axis relative to the lower unit, so that the conflicting support points clear and are adapted to pass each other as the upper unit moves toward nesting position into the lower unit. When the support points near the bottom of'the upper unit have passed the obstruction of the coacting support points near the upper edge of the lower unit, the upper unit may be rotated back into vertical alignment with the lower unit and the clearway permits the further lowering of the upper unit down into finally nested position.

In the later described embodiment, this shifting of the upper unit is linear, generally parallel to one side of the tray, until the tiering support points cleareach other permitting the upper tray to move downwardly, through the clearways provided to nesting position.

My improved tray as set forth herein may be made of cast aluminum, sheet metal, plastic, spaced wires or any other material or construction embodying the principles set forth hereinafter. *The. sides and bottom of the tray may be substantially solid or of open construction as desired, or the invention may be applied to trays as hereinafter set forth having almost no sides except sufiicientside portions to sustain the upper edge defining portions necessary to the carrying out of my invention as will hereinafter appear.

This invention is related in a general way to another tierable and nestble receptacle-disclosed and claimedin my copending applicationSerial No. 309,885, filed September 16, 1952. now Patent No. 2,782,936. The similarity between the present application andmy copending application is that they both. disclose tierable and nest.-

2,931,535 Patented Apr. 5, 19i0 able receptacles having no moving parts whatsoever.

The broad distinction between this and my copending.

application mentioned above is that in the copending application the upper unit is nested with the lower unit by tilting or rocking the upper unit about a generally horizontal axis, while in the present application the nesting of the two units is arrived at by a slight shifting motion of one unit relative to the other moving the,

shiftable unit in the same horizontal plane.

Other objects and advantages of the present inventio 'will be set forth in the accompanying specification and wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tray, while Fig. 2

is a top plan view of the tray of Fig. 1 with the lower part of an upper unit indicated in section as entering into the lower tray;

Figs. 3 and 4 show a second form of my invention wherein Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a single tray while Fig. 4 is a top plan view of such a tray with the lower part of an upper tray shown in section as entering intothe lower tray;

. Figs. 5 tol5 show another modification of my invention where the tray or basket is made of separate wires and the basket is longer than it is wide. In the various views, Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of this tray, Fig. 6 is an end elevation thereof, Fig. 7 is a top plan view thereof, Fig. 8 is'a fragmental side elevational view of portions of two trays according to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 placed together in tiered relationship, Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of portionsof two tiered trays as in Fig. 8, Fig. 10 is a fragmental sectional view taken alongthe line 10-10 of Fig. 8 and showing all parts down to the plane of the line 10a of Figs. 8 and 9, Fig. 11 is a fragmental sectional view similar to Fig. 10 but showing another position of the parts, Fig. 12 is a fragmental sectional view showing .inperspective a corner of the tray of Figs. 5, 6 and 7 at the place where the wires of. the upper tray rest upon the projections of wires of the lower tray to hold the two trays in nested relationship, Fig. 13 is aview similar to Fig. 12 but showing the upper tray rotated a few degrees toward the right from the position of Fig. 12 so as to permit the support portions near the bottom of the upper tray to clear and pass the tiering support portions near the top of the lower tray while proceeding with a nesting operation, Fig. 14 is a fragmental side elevational view of three of the trays of Figs. 5, 6 and 7 in nested relationship and cept that the form of Figs. 16 through 19 is square in' plan whereas the form in Figs. 5 to 15 is rectangular in plan. Fig. 16 is a top plan view of this embodiment, Fig. 17 is a plan view of the bottom of the tray of Fig. 16, Fig. 18 is a fragmental sectional view taken in the same manner as Fig. 10 and Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18 but showing another position of the parts analogous to the relationship between Figs. 10. and 11.

Figs. 20 through 27 show another embodiment of my invention comprising a fiat tray with a very shallow rirn around the edge thereof and with four widely spaced side portions located near the four corners of the rectangular tray. in these views, Fig. 20 is a top plan view of the tray, Fig. 21 is a side elevational view of two of the trays of Fig. 20 in tiered relationship, Fig. 22 is a top plan view of the two trays of Fig. 21 showing the upperone rotated a few degrees about a central vertical axis prior to a nesting operation, Fig. 23 is a fragensues mental side elevational view of the trays of Fig. 22 showing the position of the side portions or handles where the tiering support portions of the two trays clear each other vertically, Fig. 24 is a View similar to Fig. 23 but showing the trays brought back into vertical registration aft'er the tiering support portions have passed each other in a nesting operation, Fig. 25 shows the two trays of Figs. 21 and 22 in completely nested relationship, Fig 26'; is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 26'26 of Fig. 21 and Fig. 27 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken along the line 27*27 of Fig. 25.

Figs. 28 through 34 show another modification of my invention comprising a generally fiat tray with a very shallow edge or rim about the edge thereof and four widely separated side portions located near the corners of the rectangular tray. Fig. 28 is a top plan view of a tray of this embodiment, Fig. 29 is a side elevational view of two trays like that of Fig. 28 in tiered relationship, Fig. 30 shows the two trays of Fig. 29 with the upper one rotated slightly with reference to the lower one at the beginning of a nesting operation, Fig. 31 is a fragmental side. elevational view of the two trays of Fig. 30 showing the position of the parts when the tiering support portions of the upper tray will clear and pass the other support portions of the lower tray, Fig. 32 shows the completely nested relationship of the two trays of Figs. 29 and 30, Fig. 33 is an enlarged frzgme'ntal sectional view taken along the line 33'33 of .Fig. '29 and Fig. 34 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken along the line 34-34 of Fig. 32.

Figs. 35 through 38 show another modification of my invention Where the upper tray is shifted in a linear direction to disengage the tiering support portions, after which a nesting action is possible. Fig. 35 is a top plan view of a tray embodying this invention. Fig. 36 is a front elevational view of the same taken from the position of the line 3636 of Fig. 35. Fig. 37 is an end view of the tray of Fig. 35 taken from the position of line 37-37, together with a second tray in tiered relationship above the first. Fig. 38 is a'viewtaken from the same position as Fig. 37 but showing in full lines the fully nested position of two trays and in dot-dash lines an intermediate position of the upper tray as it moves downwardly toward nested position.

Figs. 39, 40 and 41 show still another embodiment of my invention closely'related to the form mentioned above. Fig. 39 is a top plan view of a tray or basket embodying this invention. Fig. 40 is a-front elevational view of the same taken from the position of the line 404ll of Fig. 39 but showing two of the baskets in fully nested position. Fig. 41 is an end view. of the basket of Fig. 39 taken from the position of the line H -=41 of Fig. 39 but with a second basket in tiered position above the first basket- An easily understandable vform of my invention is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Here. the tray this generally square in plan View having a bottom 41 and four upstanding sides 42. Here the tray is made largely of sheet material such as sheet metal or plastic. However, in all forms of my invention disclosed'herein, the material of which the trays are made is relatively unimportant as will be understood as the description of the-invention proceeds. Here the upper edge portion defining means is a bead 43 formed by a continuous wire ex tending around the upper edge of the tray over which the side wall material of the members 42 is folded except at four open spaces 43a. the members 42 provide frame members sloping upwardly and outwardly from the bottom 41 to connect with the upper edge portion defining means. In other forms of the invention hereinafter described, these frame members are not always sheet metal but may be made of wire or other separate members. The portions asaprovide a "plurality of tieringsupportportionsextehding ill-- In this form of'my invention, 7

wardly from the upper edge of the tray and near the four corners thereof. There is a vertically extending clearway 44 which here consists of an opening in each side portion 42 and extending from the tiering support portion 43a down substantially to the bottom 41. There will be noted a slightly indented triangular recess 41a up set from beneath the bottom 41 and directly below each wire portion 43a for the purpose of receiving the wire portions 4.3a when two like trays are placed in tiering position. v

Referring to Fig. 2, I have shown the lower part of an upper tray 4!) exactly like that described in connection with Fig. 1 which is being moved from a tiering position with respect to the lower tray so as to pass the upper tray downwardly into the lower tray for nesting purposes. It will be noted that thebottorn 41' will pass into the upper part of the lower tray because of the slopingwalls-or frame members '42 of the lower tray. It will be noted that the upper tray has been turned a few degrees (between 7 and 8 degrees) about a generally central vertical axis A and the. parts are so proportioned as to permit this as the lower part of the upper tray moves down into the upper part of the lower tray. This rotative movement is sufilcient to permit the support portions at 45 on the bottom 41' to clear the tiering support portions 43a of the lower tray so that the upper tray may pass downwardly. into the. lower tray. After the upper tray is passed downwardly with the parts in the position of Fig. 2, the upper tray may be rotated back in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 whereupon the upper tray will move downwardly in the lower tray to a completely nested position with the bottom 4il'almost touching the bottom 41.

Thus, two trays identical with that shown in Fig. 1 may be placed in tiering position when the trays are filled with material, or the two trays may be placed in a closely nested position to save space when the trays are being stored or returned to a place of filling. This .is all done without any moving parts being supplied whatsoever.

Another simple form of my invention is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Here the tray 46 has a bottom 47 having four upwardly and outwardly extending side wall portions 43. The upper edges of the side walls are folded in a head around a continuous wire to form the head 49 except at four spaced portions 49a where the wire is left exposed. Vertically beneath each bare wire support portion 4% is a tiering support portion 51inthe form of a'tongue projecting laterally outwardly from the bottom 47. Preferably, the distal end of each tongue is bent to form a downwardly extending groove or recess at 51a the arrangement being such that the groove 51a is directly vertically below the associated bare wire sup port portion 4%.

in Fig. 4, the lower part 46' of an upper tray exactly like 46 is shown in section as being entered downwardly into the lower tray 46 after a tiering operation. in such 'a tiering operation, each of the grooves 51a fits over one of the bare wire support portions 49a so as to hold-the upper tray tiered on the lower tray and the grooves 51a prevent lateral displacement of the upper tray relative to the lower tray. In order to start a nesting operation, the upper tray is rotated a few degrees about'a generally verticalicentral axis A so as to cause the tiering support portions 51 of the upper tray to clear the support portions-49aof the lower tray as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The clearways 56 then permit the tiering support portions 51' to pass downwardly in the position of Fig. 4 until the parts 51 have cleared the support portions 49a. Then, the upper tray may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction from the position of'Fig. 4 until the two trays are again vertically aligned after which the upper tray may be moved down to a fully nested position where the bottom 47 of the upper tray almost touches the bottom 47 of the lower tray so as to greatly reduce the space occupied by two trays in their nested position.

It will be noted in Fig. 4, that the clearways 50 are wider as measured along a sideof the tray than the width of a tiering support portion 51' so as to permit the tiering support portion 51' to move angularly into the clearway 50 as shown in Fig. 4 to accommodate the passing and nesting action.-

In Figs. 5 to 15 inclusive, I have shown still another embodiment of my invention. Of this embodiment,'Fig. 5 shows a side elevational view, Fig. 6' an .end elevational view and Fig. 7 a top plan view. This trayis generally rectangular in plan as apparent from Fig. 7 in distinction to the next described modification which is substantially square in plan. Referring first to Fig. 6

and Fig.7, the tray 52 has a bottom 54 with a substantially planar bottom edge portion 54a. The means defining an' upper edge portion is a heavy wire 55 extending completely. around the upper edge of the tray generally in a plane parallel to and spaced above the bottom edge portion 54a. Here the means defining the upper edge portion comprises horizontally spaced side portions which are the four generally vertically extending side walls of the tray or basket 52. The frame members which rigidly connect the bottom and upper edge portions are the wires of smaller diameter 56. in this form of my invention, the tiering support portions extend generally parallel to the sides of the basket or tray 52. Since a rotative movement of an upper tray relative to a lower tray is utilized to provide nesting, the arrangement of the tiering support portions 56a could better be described with reference to the central vertical axis A about which this rotative movement occurs. With this in mind, it will be noted that the tiering support portions extend at an angle close to 90 degrees with respect to a radius extending between each support portion and this central vertical axis. The tiering support portions 56a are near the upper edge of the tray. The other support portions which coact with the tiering support portions to hold two baskets in tiered relationship are near the bottom of the basket and are shown at 56b in Figs. 5 and 6. It will be noted that the upwardly extending frame members 56 which rigidly connect the bottom 54 and the upper edge portion defining means 55 slope upwardly from the bottom in manner facilitating nesting of two like trays. Thissloping or inclination of the frame members 56 in this form of my invention is downwardly from the top toward the right-hand around the entire tray or basket. It will be borne in mind that the frame members 56 sloping downwardly and toward the right are on the near side of the basket while the frame members on the opposite side appear from this position to slope the other way, but of course when viewed from the other side of the basket also slope downwardly and toward the right-hand. It will be noted in Fig. 6 that the tiering support portions 561: and the other support portions 56b :are shown at the upper and lower ends of each of the frame members 56. This is at the narrower dimension at the end of the basket. In Fig. 5, it will be noted that only the four left hand frame members 56 are provided withtiering support portions 56a and only the three left-hand menn bers are provided with the other support portions; 56b.

The same is true at the other side of the basket which appears in elevation exactly like the near side of the basket in Fig. 5. The purpose of this arrangement on the longer side of the basket will be apparent hereinafter.

It will be noted in the, various views that the plane passing through the frame members 56 on any one side of the tray or basket is generally vertical with the upper edge portion 55 lying outside the plane and with another heavy wire member 57 extending entirely around the tray a slight distance below the top and forming a nesting stop member as will later appear. Gutwardly offset portions 58 of the wire members 56 support the wire or rod 57 which is in a positiondirectly vertically below the member 55.

The structure immediately adjacent the support portions 56a and'56b will be readily understood from Fig 12. This view shows the lower part of an upper basket or tray'adjacent the upper part of a lower basketor tray. The parts connected with the upper basket or tray thereafter continues upwardly with 'a short vertical stretch 56:11), which thereafter turns horizontally outwardly at right anglesto the sideof the-tray with a short portion 56ac which is secured to the wire 55 by soldering or welding. It should be understood that all of the wires and tray elements shown in Figs. 5 through 15 inclusive are welded or soldered to those otherelements which they engage. I

Referring back to Fig. 12, following one of the wires 56 of the upper tray downwardlypast the support portion 561), it will be noted that there is a short vertical portion thereafter 5617c followed by a short horizontal portion extending laterally inwardly 56bd which is secured'to the bottom 54' as by. soldering or welding. When the upper tray or basket rests in tiered position upon the lower tray or basket, as shown fragmentally in Fig. 12, the load of the upper tray-may be carried by the members 56ba" resting on the members 56a, or by the member 56b resting on the members 56ac, depending upon how the parts are made. It is possible if the parts are very accurately made to have the load absorbed at both of these points simultaneously.

When the parts are to be moved from the position of Figs. 8, 9 and 12 where an upper tray is tiered upon a lower tray, in order-to start the nesting operation of the upper tray downinto the lower tray, the upper tray is lifted slightly while the parts are in the position of Fig. 10, then rotated slightly relative to each other about a vertical central axis A to the position shown in Fig. 11. The position of the parts in Fig. 10 is also seen in Figs. 8, 9 and 1 2. The position of the parts in Fig. 11 is also shown in Fig. 13. In order to permit the slight rotation of the upper tray relativeto the lower tray as indicated in Figs. 11 and 13, the bottom 54 as seen in Fig. 7 or 54' as seen in Figs. 10 and 11, is cut away from the true rectangular form. As viewed from above, the left-hand portion of each side of the bottom, to the left of a center line, slopes away from the center line and downwardly toward the corner along an angle roughly equivalent to the angle ofrotation B indicated in Fig. 11. This permits the rotation of the parts from the position of Fig. 10 to the position of Fig. 11 while the bottom 54 of the upper tray is still inside of the upper part of the lower trayi- The rotated position of the parts, causes the tiering support portions near the bottom of the upper tray to clear the coacting tiering support portions near the top of the lower tray when the parts are in the position of Figs. 11 and 13 as will' clearly appear. [It will have been noted that all of the wires 56 at the end of the basket or tray are provided with these tiering support portions as clearly seen in Fig. 6. It will be recalled that in connection with Fig. 5 it was explained that only a few of the wires 56 toward the left-hand side of the longer sides of the tray are provided with these tiering support portions. Reference 'toFigs. l1 and 13 will show the reason for this. As viewed in Fig. 1-l,'the three wires 56bc' shown at the upper right-hand corner of the bottom 54' are carried by the rotation of the upper 

